Backyard Birds

During the cold winter months, plenty of feathered friends visit our backyard for tasty treats and a refreshing sip of water. Black oil sunflower seeds and suet cakes seem to be the most popular snacks. Below are photographs of several birds that have visited our backyard throughout the winter season.

A beautiful Tufted Titmouse selects from many sunflower seeds

Blue Jays seem to favor sunflower seeds, dried corn and unsalted roasted peanuts

White-breasted Nuthatches are quite fond of suet cakes and a variety of seeds

A lovely Dark-eyed Junco samples the seed selection on the ground

Downy Woodpeckers can be seen quite regularly nibbling on suet cakes

 Northern Cardinals visit our feeders most often at dusk. They can't get enough of the fatty sunflower seeds.

Red-bellied Woodpecker ~ These noisy birds fly clumsily in and eagerly feeds on sunflower seeds, corn and suet cakes

Delightful Black-capped Chickadees are the most common of our backyard visitors

Male Northern Cardinal most always arrive accompanied by a mate and  other cardinal couples

Quick moving Red-breasted Nuthatches have been frequent visitors to our feeders this year. Suet cakes and sunflower seeds are their snacks of choice. 

I recently saw a Pileated Woodpecker flying about the area where many of our bird feeders hang. Though the photograph is blurry, I was thrilled to finally snap a shot of one of these shy interesting birds (photograph taken in November)

Tufted Titmouse ~ Delicious!

Birds of Paradise

The winter season has been slow to start here in Chicago. Up until two days ago, our weather has been very spring-like. Currently, as I gaze out the window, I see six inches of pristine snow blanketing our lawn, bushes and trees. The air is crisp at 20 degrees. Winds are brisk. Winter has finally arrived.

During January and February, the coldest months of the year, I spend less time outdoors photographing birds because of the frigid temperatures and frequent snowy days. I really do miss meandering though nature preserves, strolling around ponds and scaling small sand dunes. With this post, I thought I would warm up a bit and revisit our recent vacation destination, the gulf coast of Florida. Truly a tropical paradise! Below I feature many of the lovely birds seen on our two week trip.

The magnificent wings of an Osprey ~ It appears as if this female was eyeing me as if I were prey!

Pretty Northern Mockingbirds are a common sight on Longboat Key

The freshly fluffed plumage of a Wood Stork

A lithe Greater Yellowlegs seeks nourishment in the shallows

We delighted in watching this juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron stalk crabs on the beach

A stunning Snowy Egret looks out over the deep blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico

Two feisty Great Egrets engage in a territorial dispute

A dainty Black-bellied Plover escapes the frothy waves of the Gulf

Little Blue Herons are often seen hunting in Sarasota Bay

A Yellow-crowned Night Heron wades the bay waters in search of prey

Crouched and ready for take off ~ Great Blue Heron



Beautiful Birds of Myakka

On a brisk, gusty November afternoon, Bruce and I kissed two mopey-eyed dogs goodbye (sniff, sniff), hopped in a taxi, made our way through airport security, glided along on several moving walkways and boarded a plane to the west coast of Florida. Thanksgiving with my family down in Longboat Key is always a joy. Our days are spent with loved ones, savoring delicious home cooked meals, basking in the warm, soothing rays of the sun and strolling on white, powdery beaches. Viewing the gorgeous wildlife of the Gulf Coast is a special treat for us as well.

This year, we decided to visit Myakka River State Park, only 40 minutes away. Myakka River State Park is one of the oldest and largest state parks in Florida. The Myakka River flows through 58 square miles of diverse terrain. A most wonderful day was spent viewing an abundance of wildlife (especially birds!) and beautiful scenic landscapes. We observed at least 34 species of birds, eight American Alligators (two mating) and one furtive Florida Water Snake. I was thrilled to add two life birds to my list, as we spotted a few well camouflaged Wilson's Snipes and four elegant Black-necked Stilts.

This post features several of the stunning birds seen at the park ... and one BIG alligator.

A resplendent Tricolored Heron exhibits interesting fishing behavior

This lovely Sandhill Crane pair was one of several we observed at the park

A slender Greater Yellowlegs darts for prey in the shallows

An elegant Great Egret walks amid a lush bed of water hyacinth

I gasped when I saw this Great Blue Heron land in close proximity to the basking alligator. The scaly large-mouthed reptile showed no interest and a minute or two later slowly slid into the water.

The Wood Stork's diet consists of crayfish, crabs, fish, frogs and large insects. I find the prehistoric look of the Wood Storks bald head to be so very interesting.

Many solitary Glossy Ibis were seen feeding throughout the park. I recently read that these birds will without hesitation, indulge in eating water snakes.

The stunning blue plumage of a Little Blue Heron

We were thrilled to spot over 40 Roseate Spoonbills at the park. Most were congregated at a remote area of Upper Myakka Lake. This is not the greatest photograph, but I was elated to catch sight of the blushing bird in flight.

A beautiful White Ibis exhibits a mucky beak from probing in the mud for food

A Great Blue Heron and Wood Stork cross paths while seeking sustenance

Soon after the above photograph was taken, this American Alligator lumbered into the water and swam after another alligator, perhaps 300 feet away. The rapid chase continued for a few minutes until they both slowed down, swam side by side and proceeded to mate.

~ The average male American Alligator is 10-15 feet long and weighs 500-600 pounds ~